Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin (12) is hugged by teammate Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson (81) after Harvin’s touchdown during the third quarter of the Minnesota Vikings against the Tennessee Titans game on October 7, 2012 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. (Pioneer Press: Sherri LaRose-Chiglo)

Vikings receiver Jerome Simpson sat out long stretches of the team’s win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Oct. 7, spending much of the game dealing with tightness in his lower left leg.

Simpson wasn’t sure what caused the tightness but said he first felt pain in his leg the night before the game, and couldn’t get loose during warmups.

“I just felt like my foot was kind of asleep, I guess,” Simpson said. “Until we know the diagnostics, I really can’t (say) if it’s a foot, a calf or what. I really don’t know right now.”

He was targeted with three passes, but went without a catch on a day when quarterback Christian Ponder connected with eight different receivers. Simpson slammed his helmet on the ground as he came off the field and stood on the sideline trying to work out his leg for much of the game.

“He wasn’t able to really push off and didn’t feel like he had the strength in his lower leg,” coach Leslie Frazier said. “We have to try to find out why (that is) the case.”

Simpson was serving an NFL suspension during the Vikings’ first three games, and made his season debut on Sept. 30 against Detroit. Now, he’ll have to see if he needs to wait longer before getting back on the field.

“Missing three games, I just want to be out there with the guys and try to make plays,” he said. “I wasn’t able to do that today.”

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